Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, our nation has fought a global war against violent extremists who use terrorism as their weapon of choice, and who seek to destroy our free way of life. Our enemies seek weapons of mass destruction and, if they are successful, will likely attempt to use them in their conflict with free people everywhere. Currently, the struggle is centered in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we will need to be prepared and arranged to successfully defend our nation and its interests around the globe for years to come. DOD

Our enemies include all the Muslims who dream of knocking Western Civilization off its perch atop humanityâs dung heap. Islam is fractured into any number of sects, tribes and ethnic groups, but the dream of destroying us cuts across all the fault lines. Islamic terrorists are merely the tip of a very large spear.

J. Peter Mulhern, the American Thinker, September 18

The determination behind that fight is real, the hatred is real, and the excuses for doing this are very real in the minds of those who have decided to walk that path. We can respond in two ways: Try to ignore or negotiate with people who do not want to negotiate in good faith, because what they want is our destruction, or to stand up against the darkness of those who see all of us, our way of life, our culture and our aspirations as something worth eliminating.

Either: "And God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Or: "With vigilance, determination, courage, we will defeat the enemies of freedom, and we will leave behind a more peaceful world for our children and our grandchildren." GW Bush.

Here's where I will post news and info about the Long War. Let me know if you're interested.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert failed severely in exercising good judgment, responsibility, and caution with regards to his conduct of the Second Lebanon War, according to the Winograd Commissions report, which was published Monday afternoon, nearly nine months since the war ended.

Olmert is responsible for going to war without a proper plan. He is responsible for the goals not being carefully and clearly set the report said.

“We find the prime minister ministerially and personally responsible for the faulty decisions taken and the problems in the decision-making process,” the report stated.

“The prime minister had formulated his opinion without being presented with a detailed plan, and without demanding that such a plan be presented, and therefore he could not have analyzed its details and approved it.”

“Furthermore, he did not demand to be presented with genuine alternatives to his own opinions, or exhibit due skepticism regarding the military’s positions. In this he failed. The prime minister also failed when he had his government approve such decisions and by declaring unattainable objectives to the war, and that the fighting should continue until they were achieved.”

Members of the Winograd Commission arrived at Olmerts office at 4 p.m. on Monday, and presented him and Defense Minister Amir Peretz with the report, in order for them to review it before its publication.

On receiving the report, Olmert told the commission members, “You have done serious work, and I thank you on behalf of the government. I know it hasnt been easy for you in recent months. This is hard, and sometimes ungrateful, work.”

“We will study the report and act immediately so that we can implement the lessons, fix the failures, and make sure that in any future scenario of the State of Israel, the failures you have indicted are corrected,” he pledged.

(IsraelNN.com) Three opposition factions, United Torah Judaism, Likud, and National Union- National Religious Party, have requested a special Knesset session to discuss the Winograd Committees Interim Report. The request, delivered to the Speaker of the Knesset, is expected to be honored later this week.

The freshly published report harshly criticized Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and former Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz for their actions during the Second Lebanon War.

Chairman of the Likud faction MK Gideon Saar said of the Winograd Commission’s publication of its interim report that “the report leads to a single conclusion  the failed government no longer has moral validity to lead. It must return the mandate to the people immediately.”

Likud MK Yuval Steinitz said, “The bottom line in the report is that last summer Israel did not have effective political and security leadership in a time of war. There can be no worse problem in a democratic state.” (Amnon Meranda)

That Winograd report sounds to me like a Mark One Mod Zero Political Second-guessing and CYA Cluster****, and this comment just dropped my opinion of “MK Gideon Saar” and his party straight into the crapper.

Someday, one of those political whizkids is going to wake up to the reality that YOU DO NOT RUN A WAR THE SAME WAY YOU RUN A D*** POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, YOU JUST GET THE NEP’s, MEDIA TALKING HEADS AND YOUR OWN TENDER BUTT THE HE** OUT OF THE AREA, TURN LOOSE THE DOGS AND CONFINE YOUR “WARTIME LEADERSHIP” TO SUPPORTIVE SPEECHES AND ORGANIZING THE VICTORY CELEBRATIONS.

Sorry about the attitude, but just DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!

1,669
posted on 04/30/2007 8:47:48 AM PDT
by Unrepentant VN Vet
(I'm rapidly running out of reasons to consider a democrat as a citizen of the same country.)

Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon said in response to publication of the Winograd Commission partial report: “Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not contemplating to resign. Resignation is not a magic potion.”

According to Maimon, “the prime minister believes that he is the right man to fix the wrongs of his government.” (Ronny Sofer)

A high-ranking official from Kadima said in response to the Winograd Commission report that “the prime minister cannot remain in his position.”

He added that Olmert’s personal accountability was very high, “and this is only a partial report. The final report will be more severe. If the prime minister does not do it on his own accord, Kadima will have to do it.” (Ronny Sofer)

(IsraelNN.com) The Kadima Knesset faction, the party of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the largest Knesset faction, is beginning to show signs of internal rift as it responds to the Winograd Committees Interim Report. MK Menachem Ben-Sasson spoke on behalf of the entire faction, stating his support for Olmert, and calling on politicians to patiently analyze the reports findings before jumping to conclusions.

Nevertheless, there are members of the Kadima faction who are saying that there must be changes at the top by the end of the week, or that the government will fall. Several Kadima MKs have had meetings in recent weeks with Likud head Binyamin Netanyahu, considered the strongest contender to succeed Olmert in the event of new elections.

“...we said exactly that, with some colorful variations all through the war”

After finally shoehorning some information out of my Dad (a P-51 driver who flew tactical reconnaissance for Georgy Patton), the Korea vet in-laws, my brothers and I from ‘Nam most of the First Gulf War and now the WOT, we’ve all been saying exactly that about way too many wars.

Problem is, that while it might seem like a distraction to some, those distractions have an annoying habit of getting people sent home in body bags.

If you can find anything to put in the bag, or (my personal burr under the saddle) even bother to look. (I’ve still got former student pilots on the MIA list.)

1,677
posted on 04/30/2007 9:24:33 AM PDT
by Unrepentant VN Vet
(I'm rapidly running out of reasons to consider a democrat as a citizen of the same country.)

(IsraelNN.com) Politicians from the right and left are calling for Prime Minster Ehud Olmert to draw what they see as the obvious conclusion of the Winograd Commission’s preliminary report on the Second Lebanon War and resign. The Likuds Limor Livnat, National Union’s Uri Ariel, NRP’s Zevulun Orlev, and Meretzs Yossi Beilin have all called on Olmert to resign since the report was released.

The Judicial Forum for the Land of Israel has threatened to petition the Supreme Court if Olmert does not resign, comparing the Winograd Report to a legal sentencing.

21:35 U.S. report: Iran still biggest government supporter of terrorism (AP)
21:28 Egypt frees 2 Muslim Brotherhood members, order 12 others detained for 15 days (AP)
21:18 Livni following release of report: We must exercise self criticism (Channel 10)
21:12 Bereaved Families` Forum invites public to protest Thurs. to urge PM to quit (Haaretz)
21:05 Olmert: I will propose creation of team Wednesday to amend deficiencies (Haaretz)
21:03 PM Olmert: Special team to be assembled to study Winograd report findings (Haaretz)
21:00 IDF chief Ashkenazi appoints committee to study Winograd report (Haaretz)
20:55 PM Olmert: The war was righteous and unavoidable (Haaretz)
20:54 Olmert: It would not be correct to resign, and I do not intend to do so (Haaretz)
20:54 Olmert: I will work to fix all deficiencies named in Winograd report (Haaretz)

(IsraelNN.com) According to polls conducted after the Winograd Report was published, the overwhelming majority (69%) of Israelis think Prime Minster Ehud Olmert should resign, and a majority (53%) wants new elections.

The most popular choice for the next Prime Minister is former PM Binyamin Netanyahu, preferred by 26% of those polled. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in second place with 9%.

” When I see the worsening degeneracy in our politicians, our media, our educators, and our intelligentsia, I can’t help wondering if the day may yet come when the only thing that can save this country is a military coup. “
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Just, wow......

1,695
posted on 05/01/2007 2:06:22 AM PDT
by Uncle Ike
(He who smiles and keeps his head when all about are losing theirs - doesn't understand the situation)

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